BEST PRACTICES How to Care for God’s Creation and have a Church Building For A More Environmentally Friendly Church Anne Gerrietts Clare Lewis Mark Stauffer AT YOUR CHURCH 1 2 • fix leaks • energy audit & maintenance contract • turn off lights • water heater insulation • compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) • programmable thermostat • LED exit signs • energy efficient equipment Mechanical Room Whole Building ENERGY AUDIT WATER HEATER PROGRAMMABLE LED EXIT SIGNS FIX LEAKS TURN OFF LIGHTS SWITCH TO CFLs INSULATION THERMOSTAT 3 4 • Energy Star appliances • earth-friendly paper products • reusable dishware • dual flush toilets and towels • low-flowfaucet aerators • community garden & composting • occupancy sensors Kitchen T oilet Rooms ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES SUSTAINABLE DUAL FLUSH FAUCET OCCUPANCY REUSABLE DISHWARE COMPOSTING & GARDEN PAPER PRODUCTS TOILETS AERATOR SENSORS 5 6 1
• caulk & weather strip • climate specific windows • shade trees or canopy • insulate • reflective roof • repair or replace windows Weatherization Sun Control SEAL INSULATE CLIMATE SPECIFIC SHADE TREES REFLECTIVE WINDOWS WINDOWS ROOF 7 8 • ground source heat • drought resistant plants • solar power • rainwater collection • wind energy • pervious paving • green power Storm Water Renewable Energy Management WIND DROUGHT RAINWATER PERVIOUS GROUND SOURCE PHOTOVOLTAIC RESISTANT PLANTS COLLECTION HEAT PUMP ROOF TURBINE PAVING 9 10 • energy savings The National Council of There are several options for going solar and each Churches estimates that if each • building reliability provide different benefits and cost structures. of the nation’s congregation buildings cut energy use by 25%, • occupant comfort and health they would save nearly $500 million to spend on other • benefits vulnerable communities priorities. SOLAR PURCHASE OPTIONS RETURN ON INVESTMENT Photo by Michael Ring, ELCA 11 12 2
Financial benefits of DIRECT OWNERSHIP The church purchases the solar panels and receives • Electricity savings: solar array connected behind SOLAR FINANCING ALTERNATIVES all of the electricity and existing electrical meter and will directly reduce state/federal incentives if electric bill. applicable. You may take • State of federal incentives. In many states can receive • Solar Tax Credit Overview – 30% cost reduction! out a loan to spread out • incentive rates per kWh . Donations or cash on hand upfront costs over 10 or • Borrowing • Unfortunately non-profits are unable to take more years. – Church members advantage of tax benefits associated with solar • 30% benefit pass through to members (CAUTION!) • Performance-based lease with a 3 rd party, with a deposit feature ownership. – 3 rd party solar specialty financing DIRECT OWNERSHIP • Potential for some reduction in cost due to tax credit and other tax benefits – Church affiliates – Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program, Mission Investment Fund Other 3 rd parties – • Mortgage refinancing or 2 nd mortgage 13 14 Financial benefits of POWER PURCHASE The church pays nothing Comparison of Options up front and purchases • No upfront costs solar electricity at a Option 1 Option 2 • Can save money on electric bill by locking in long- discount through a Power Direct Ownership Power Purchase term, stable rate below current utility cost. Purchase Agreement. Array Size 50 panels (15 kW) 50 panels (15 kW) • Typically extra credits, often created in the summer months, will carry forward on your electric Estimated Annual Output 69% of usage (19,500 kWh) 69% of usage (19,500 kWh) bill to be used during winter months. Equivalent CO2 Reduction Preserving 17 Acres of Forest Preserving 17 Acres of Forest Upfront Cost Est. $50,000 $0 POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT Estimated 25-year Total Savings $156,760 $39,670 15 16 Financing Option www.elca.org/Resources/Caring-for-Creation A link to Earthkeeping Resources and the ELCA’s Social Statement on the Environment. Option 1 www.lutheransrestoringcreation.org A grass roots movement within the ELCA, seeking to foster care for God's creation in all Direct Ownership expressions of our church's life. Includes news, tips, and links relating to creation care efforts Upfront Cost Est. $50.000 throughout the ELCA. Estimated Loan Rate 2.75% (Restoring Creation www.energystar.gov/congregations Loan) Free information and resources, including technical support, from a division of EnergyStar Term Up to 10 Years specific for congregations. Annual Payment (for 10 years) $5,725 ELCA RESOURCES Estimated 25-year Total Savings $99,100 www.webofcreation.org www.energystar.gov www.nccecojustice.org 17 18 3
www. presbyterianmission.org/ministries/environment/ http://www.mif.elca.org/building-green https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/environment/earth-care-congregations/ Includes short videos about green buildings (info from this presentation). A grass roots movement within the PCUSA, seeking to foster care for God’s creation in all www.mif.elca.org/resourcecenter expressions of our church's life See Forms – Building Green A list of simple things you can do to green your congregation or home. https://presbyearthcare.org/ An extensive “self” audit form you can use to perform a first level walk -thru of your building Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) invites individuals and congregations to participate in the which includes guidelines and information. growing earth care movement within the PC(USA). PEC is a national eco-justice network that cares for God’s creation by connecting, equipping, and inspiring Presbyterians to make creation care a central concern of the church. PCUSA RESOURCES RESOURCES 19 20 Caring For God’s Creation “God gives us and all creatures life through the water, air, food and all the other gifts that come to us from the earth. Everything we do both depends on these gifts, and has some kind of impact upon them. If these gifts are treated with contempt and abused, people, animals, and plants suffer together. If they are graciously received and cherished, people will flourish with the rest of creation. We cannot love God or our human neighbor without caring for creation. The question is not whether the church will engage with what our society calls the environment, but how.” The Rev. Mark S. Hanson Former Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 21 4
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